Golf stick indicia



April 26, 1960 P. SINISCALCHI 2,934,347

GOLF STICK INDICIA Filed Aug. 5, 1955 INVENTOR PATRICK SINISCALGH!ATTORNEY GOLF STICK INDICIA Patrick Siniscalchi, Glen Cove, NY.

Application August 5, 1955, Serial No. 526,626 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-164)This invention relates to indicia for golf sticks, more particularly itrelates to a specific indicium on the head of a wood to enable thegolfer to control and perfect his stroke.

It is an object of this invention to provide an indicium on the head ofa golf stick which will present a differing visual image depending uponthe accuracy with which the stroke follows the true are of swing. 7

It is an object of this invention to position an indicium on a golf clubin the apparent correct arc of stroke of the golf stick head.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an indiciumthat it may be optically observed during the actual strike of the ballso the golfer may know whether or not the golf stick is swinging in theproper arc for a correct stroke.

It is a further object of this invention to devise an indicium whichwill correctly guide the golfer on are in addressing the ball.

It is a further object of the invention to devise an indicium on thehead of a golf stick which will present a varying visual image to thegolfer during a portion of the stroke substantially eighteen inchesbefore and after the striking of the ball.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation mybe understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a preferred form of the invention on a golfwood;

Fig. 2 shows the relation of the indicium to the arc of swing at themoment of contacting the ball;

Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically the dynamic visual impression of theindicium moving correctly on are;

Fig. 4 illustrates the lines of measurement for estab lishing theindicium in practising the invention; and

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the invention.

The indicia and 10 are drawn on an angle which substantially coincideswith the desired arc of the head of the golf club when viewed from theeye of the golfer. This angulation immeasurably aids the golfer inaddressing the ball. Additionally, however, the angulation of myindicium provides a variable optical effect changing the apparentlyintensity of the streak produced by the colored indicium during thestroke and apparently depending on retinal memory.

.With reference to Fig. 1, I show a golf club having on it an indiciummade in accordance with my invention. It will be noted that thetriangular wing-like indicium 10 on the head of the golf wood 12 isangled so that the apex or tip 14 of the indicium is inclined toward theheel 16 of the club, that is, the triangular indicium 10 is not a trueisosceles but has a long side 18 and a short side 20. Moreover, thesides 18 and 20 are curved downwardly in the preferred embodiment asviewed in Figs. 1 and 3 from left to right. Base 22 of the trianglecorresponds to the usual insert 23 on the face of the head. Insert 23 isconventional in golf sticks and its surface 25 contacts the ball.

With reference to Fig. 2, I show the head of a golf stick striking aball. It will be noticed that the golf stick moves on the are indicatedby the arrow 24. It will be further noticed that this are is concentricwith an are 27 drawn from the center of the base 22 to the apex 14. Thusin addressing the ball, the golfer may observe the desired arc. That is,the indicium indicates the path of movement of the club head rather thanthe trajectory of the ball.

It is quite evident that the golf stick moves on an are. It has beenfurther observed by high speed photography that as a matter of fact itmoves in an are centered somewhere in or adjacent the throat of thegolfer. During the effective striking portion of the swing, theshoulders of the golfer have been demonstrated to pivot about hisvertebrae causing the head ofthe stick during this portion of the stroketo travel on a true arc centered in the throat or nape of the neck.

With reference to Fig. 3, there is shown an enlarged drawing of myindicium upon which is imposed parallel lines indicating the lineardensity of color. The lines of this figure are to demonstratediagrammatically infinitely small segments of the solid coloredindicium. During motion of the club head, the area within the bracket Awill create an optically less dense area or band of color as indicatedby the dotted lines at X than will the indicium in the portiondesignated B leaving the trailing lines Y. Thus, the flash of color willhave a light optical effect in the area of X and a comparativelystronger color band in the area at Y. It can be readily seen that in theevent of improper rotation of the club as by improper wrist rotation, tomove the apex 14 in the direction R there will be an increased densityof color in the area of X and a comparative decrease in the area at Y.Conversely, an improper rotation of the club to move the apex in adirection contrary to R causes a significantly wider band of color anddiminution in the area at X. Thus, the indicium serves not only as aguide to the correct arc of swing in addressing the ball but furtherprovides a guide during the stroke.

A modification of my indicium resembling an arrow 10 is shown in Fig. 5.It will be noted that the indicium is at the peculiar critical anglethat corresponds to the arc of swing indicated by arrow 24'.

In constructing the indicium on a club, I have for specific clubsexperientially determined the location of the point 14 by trial anderror, asby swinging the club in a proper arc and adjusting the indiciumto the arc.

In the following numbered woods of one make L, M, N, and O in incheswere found to be as follows with the indicium properly placed:

tude and need not be taken into consideration. However, since clubs aremanufactured with an established shaft suitable for the man the position14 may be accurately determined experientially with each club. I havefound the 'indicium is best constructed by locating, marking it andpainting it prior to the lacquering of the head of the wood.

Iclaim:

1. The combination with the head of a golf wood having a shaft, astriking face, a toe, a heel, a top and a back, of a wing-shaped visualaid indicium on the top of said head, said wing-shaped indicium havingits broadest or body end on the top of the club adjacent said strikingface, a curving tapering portion extending across the top toward theback of said head, said indicium being of a contrasting color to thecolor of said head and being constructed and arranged so a line may bedrawn that bisects the indiciurn longitudinally and is aligned with theapparent arc of the head in the optical field of the player during acorrect stroke whereby the linear density of color will indicate thealignment of the golf club head when it is in motion during the golfstroke.

2. The combination with the head of a golf wood having a shaft, astriking face, a toe, a heel, a top and a back, of an arrow-shapedvisual aid indicium on the top of said head, said arrow-shaped indiciumhaving its head on the top of the club adjacent said striking face, itsbody portion being tapered and extending across the top toward the backof said head, said indicium being of a contrasting color to the color ofsaid head and being constructed and arranged symmetrically about acenter line aligned with the apparent arc of the head in the opticalheld of the player during a correct stroke whereby the linear density ofcolor will indicate the alignment of the golf club head when it is inmotion during the golf stroke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.89,332 Bartsch Oct. 30, 1930 1,546,612 Barnes July 21, 1925 1,660,126Heeter Feb. 21, 1928 1,666,174 Holland Apr. 17, 1928 2,550,846 MilliganMay 1, 1951 2,781,197 Wiley Feb. 12, 1957

